§ 100. Св. Александр Александрийский. Подвиги его.

The first who was destined to fight the implacable enemy of St. faith - with Arius, there was St. Alexander. He was a favorite disciple of St. Peter, whom he served from a young age. Already imprisoned and close to martyrdom, the Saint appointed his successors, first Achilles, and second Alexander 33. The aged Achilles was not long at the Holy See. After his death, he was elevated to her rank. Alexander, and he appeared “a courageous defender of the Apostolic dogmas 34, wise and filled with the Holy Spirit” 35. Awarded the rank of presbyterate, but not receiving, beyond his hopes, the rank of bishop, Arius carried in his soul enmity against Alexander, who was preferred to him, 36 although Alexander, for his part, showed him respect 37. In the life of St. Alexander Arius did not find anything reprehensible and took advantage of the first opportunity - to slander the teachings of Alexander. When St. Alexander in a conversation with his elders about the mystery of St. The Trinity said that “in the Trinity there is unity” (ἐν τριάδι μόναδα εἵναι εθεολόγει): then Arius loudly declared his shepherd to be a follower of Sabellius; then for the first time, with the dexterity of a dialectician, he discovered his blasphemous thought that the Son of God is the creation of God 38 . St. Alexander showed so much moderation in his pastoral action that he allowed the presbyters to expose the error of Arius 39 with free reasoning; but Arius, possessing the ability to hide his real thoughts, aroused excitement and acquired followers 40. Vainly St. Alexander tried, both through personal conversation and written exhortation, to enlighten the arrogant presbyter and his accomplices in error 41: while the preacher of the Gospel truth was meek and acted openly, the preacher of wickedness was cunning and proud 42. Arius despised the bishop and, in the guise of an oppressed man, sought and made friends for himself; All that remains is to take decisive action. St. Alexander, around 320 43, a Council was convened, at which the blasphemous teaching was condemned, Arius and his accomplices were excommunicated from the Church; at the new numerous Council (consisting of 100 bishops), the previous definition was confirmed in relation to the new followers of Arius 44. Arius, even before the Councils, entered into relations with persons from different places, especially with Eusebius of Nicomedia, who was close to the court; – now he created a disturbance in all the churches. St. Alexander convinced the bishops with messages to defend the Church and its treasure - the truth against the enemy of Christ, explaining to them the actions and thoughts of Arius. Once again, by the will of the emperor, a Council was held in Alexandria, but Arius remained the same. It was then (in 325) in Nicaea that the Ecumenical Council took place, at which St. Alexander was “not only a participant, but also the main figure between the bishops,” anathematized Arius. 5 months after this Council, the shepherd of Christ, burdened with years, venerated his fathers on 22 Farmufa, in our opinion April 17, 326 45. Vita S. Petri episc. Alex. in Baii Specil. Romano. T. III, 682. Marcell. Libell. precum sub init. Theodorit N. E. 1, 1. Fabulae haeret. 7, 1. Socrates N. E. 1, 5. Epiphanius Haer. 69, § 3. Philostorgius N. E. 1, 3. Cyril of Alexandria Hom. 17. Tom. 2, pag. 48. Epiphany Haer. 69, § 3. Constant. § 1, 2. Alexander in a letter to Alexander. Athanasius of Alexandria. Oper. Tom. 1. p. 396. See especially the last one. to Alexander § 2, 10. Afanasy. Epist. ad Aegypt. § 22. District message of Alexander. Sozomen. N. E. 1, 15. Socrates N. E. 1, 6. Theodoret N. E. 1, 2. Epiphanius Haer. 69, § 3. Afanasy Epist. ad Aegypt. § 21. Apologet. contr. arian. § 59. Theodoret N. E. 1, 26. The saint is commemorated in the Roman Martyrology on February 26, but his name is not in the Greek calendar. You might be interested in: